Team India Gears Up for Manchester Test: Vengsarkar Backs Arshdeep, Kuldeep for Crucial Selection Shake-Up

Manchester – With the pivotal fourth Test at Old Trafford just days away, Team India is reworking its strategy after conceding a series lead to England at Lord’s. As the Shubman Gill-led side begins preparations for the July 23 clash, key selection decisions are at the forefront, especially concerning the composition of the bowling attack.

In focus is the possible inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with underperforming players like Karun Nair and Nitish Reddy reportedly under scrutiny. Nair, despite multiple starts since his comeback, has failed to convert them into substantial contributions.

Vengsarkar: "Pick Arshdeep and Kuldeep"

Former India captain and ex-chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar has offered strong recommendations ahead of the must-win encounter. Speaking to RevSportz, Vengsarkar advocated for a fresh approach in the bowling department.

“I would pick Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav for the fourth Test. Arshdeep is an effective left-arm pacer who can swing the ball both in the air and off the pitch—key assets in English conditions. He also has the ability to reverse swing, which can be decisive in the second innings,” he said.

On the potential exclusions, Vengsarkar was candid:

“I would drop Nitish Reddy and perhaps one more player to accommodate Arshdeep. Bumrah and Siraj should retain their places. Kuldeep could replace someone like Washington Sundar to bring spin variety into the mix.”

"You Can’t Win a Test With Part-Time Bowlers"

A veteran of 116 Test matches, Vengsarkar stressed the importance of deploying a full-strength bowling unit in the longest format.

“You need five frontline bowlers in a Test match. Relying on part-time options won’t win you games at this level. If your top six batters can’t score, the pressure doubles on the bowlers. You need specialists to take 20 wickets,” he remarked.

Reddy, who has featured in two Tests in the current series, has returned modest figures—scoring 45 runs and taking three wickets with his medium pace. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav is yet to get a game in the series, and Arshdeep awaits his Test debut.

Vengsarkar believes a combination of Bumrah, Siraj, Arshdeep, and Kuldeep could provide India with the ideal bowling balance for English conditions.

“With that quartet, India would have the right blend of pace and spin. But for it to work, the batting unit must step up and deliver. Only then can this bowling combination bring home a win,” he concluded.

As India weighs its options ahead of the Manchester Test, team selection will be pivotal—not only for levelling the series but also for demonstrating the bench strength and adaptability of a squad under pressure.